Mike has taught and coached nearly one hundred young people who have received
college scholarships at the NJCAA (junior college), NAIA (small college), and NCAA
Division I, II, and III levels. Outstanding students include:
C. J. Weber
who was named 2003-04 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and is now
assistant tennis coach at University of Miami.
Aaron
Phillips who reached the Elite Eight in 2001-02 and 2002-03, and the Final
Four at the 2003-04 Illinois State High School
Championships. He went on to play as a top player for the Indiana State University
Sycamores and the Ball State Cardinals.
Cy Cystila
reached the Elite Eight round of the Illinois State High School Championships in
1996 and is now head pro at the Peoria Racquet Club.
Mike's personal competition successes
include winning regional tournaments in St. Louis and Indianapolis as a
youngster. While majoring in secondary education at Lakeland Junior College and
Eastern Illinois University, Mike played #1 singles and #1 doubles reaching the
semifinals in doubles and the quarterfinals in singles at the NJCAA (National
Junior College Athletic Association) championships.
As a six-year-old in Effingham watching his
older brother take tennis lessons, Mike broke out the
tears and a few "emotional outbursts" (ie. tantrums) until Mom gave him lessons at the local
courts. When his skills began to develop his father took over the training also finding
some older kids to play matches and practice with Mike. At age eight Mike began to
play in tournaments. The entire family continued to play together and the
brothers began to play and watch each other play in area tournaments as they
went through high school and college.
Named as the 1989 USTA Midwest Family
of the Year, the Reynolds family continues to be devoted to this game and
the character it builds. Mike's inspiration for tennis, older brother Yale
, played #1 singles and doubles in college. Yale now coaches a small high
school girls tennis team in Effingham winning the 2008 small schools
championships. With 158 straight dual match wins in the coaching gig, Yale also runs a private
one-court indoor tennis teaching facility in Effingham.
In addition to the Family of the Year
award, Mike's mother, Diane, has won numerous awards for her service to tennis.
In fact, if you receive the USTA Midwest Tennis News magazine you'll notice the
Junior Tennis section in the Winter 2008 issue features Mrs. Reynolds and her
introduction of the USTA QuickStart program to young learners in the Effingham
area. Mike's father Joe played high school tennis (1952-56) for Vandalia,
Illinois High School and played in adult and senior tournaments until 2000.
He now coaches the St. Anthony's boys tennis team. For this family, tennis is truly a passion.
